Combat aircraft

W

HETHER REFERRED

TO as a MiG-29M

or a MiG-35, the

latest ‘Fulcrum’ is

one and the same

aircraft — the

di ering identities depend mainly

upon marketing-speak. The variant

ordered by Syria (now on hold) and then

Egypt is designated as the MiG-29M,

or M2 in its two-seat version, while

that for Russia is the MiG-35S/35UB,

but the di erences between them are

insigni cant. The internal designation

at the Mikoyan design bureau is izdeliye

9.41S for the single-seater and 9.47S for

the two-seater in the original form for

Syria. Further derivatives for Egypt are

designated 9.41SM and 9.47SM, and for

Russia 9.41SR and 9.47SR respectively.

The airframe is based on the

MiG-29K carrier  ghter, but with some

simpli cations. It lacks the arresting

hook and folding wing mechanism, and

the speci c navigation equipment for

carrier operations has been removed.

Compared with a ‘classic’ MiG-29, the

new  ghter has eight per cent more

thrust and 45 per cent more fuel, which

address the  ghter’s primary Achilles’

heel — range.

The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS)

remain lukewarm towards the MiG-35.

Despite numerous declarations,

the Russian Ministry of Defense has

continued to procrastinate over an order

Based on the MiG-29K airframe, Russia has developed a new shore-based derivative. Known as

both the MiG-29M and MiG-35, the advanced ‘Fulcrum-F’ is now in production.

REPORT Piotr Butowski

‘FULCRUM’

ENCORE

Right: This

MiG-29M is one

of two aircraft

produced

in Syrian

confi guration. It

carries a Grom-E2

glide weapon.

All photos

Piotr Butowski

Below: MiG-35UB

‘712’ is among two

pre-production

aircraft built

to ‘Russian

standard’. Here it

carries a I-220/

KE air-to-ground

targeting pod.

http://www.combataircraft.net // March 2018 77

77-79 Russian Fighters MiG-35 C.indd 77 19/01/2018 11:06